Automatic shut-off for gasoline dispensing nozzles



F. V. MAYO June 8, 1937.

AUTOMATIC SHUT-OFF FOR GASOLINE DISPENSING NO ZZLES 5 1 3 A0 Y t y w 2 Z p M m m m 5m V a 3 k W n 6 a H w n m m m F. V. MAYO June 8, 1937.

AUTOMATIC SHUT-OFF FOR GASOLINE DISPENSING NOZZLES 5 Sheets-Sheet; 2

Filed April 20, 1935 Ewnl V ATTOPNEXS June 8, 1937. F. v. MAYO 2,083,078

AUTOMATIC SHUT-OFF FOR GASOLINE DISPENSING NOZZLES Filed April 20, 1935 3 Shegts-Sheet 5 m 'E.\' TOR.

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Patented June 8 1937 ATENT OFFICE Frank V. Mayo, Stockton, Calif.

Application April 20,

4 Claims.

This invention relates to gasoline dispensing nozzles."

Retail gas dispensing nozzles now in use consist generally of a nozzle body, a flexible delivery tube, a seat casting, together with a valve, and a coiled spring above the seat assembly, a rod actuating said seat assembly to open the valve when actuated by the manual pressure of the operator on the valve handle. Such nozzles are attached to a flexible hose, which is part of the retail gasoline dispensing pump, and deliver the gasoline at a nozzle pressure varying from six or eight to a maximum of eighteen pounds.

In the present design of automobile gasoline tanks no visible means exists whereby a service station operator may know when the tank is about full, except the gauge on the car dashboard which, of course, he can not see and which is often quite inaccurate. It is, therefore, necessary in the dispensing of gasoline for the operator to slow down the delivery of the gasoline when he thinks the tank is about full, withdraw the nozzle and make several examinations or take the chance of overflowing the tank.

Because of the loss of time involved by the present practice, more often than otherwise, the automobile driver chooses to purchase but a few gallons when he might as well obtain the full capacity of the tank.

The present invention seeks to render the dispensing of gasoline in most cases fully automatic when a full tank is desirable, rendering it impossible to overflow the tank, and permitting the operator meanwhile to otherwise service the automobile during the time he now devotes to the dispensing of the gasoline. With this improved nozzle the operator inserts the nozzle tube in the tank inlet and secures it in place by a quarter turn of the looking or sealing cap on the nozzle 4 tube, which fits the tank inlet in a similar manner as the cap that has been removed. Pressure on the handle of the nozzle will actuate the flow of gasoline as before but an integral latch on the handle will keep the valve open and the gasoline 5 will continue to flow until the tank is filled, when it will be automatically stopped. The exact quantity of gasoline delivered, as well as its price to the nearest penny, will at the same time be recorded on the dial or register of the modern computing pump, or the gallonage indicated or shown without price information, if the older type pump is used.

Thus, the device will serve to render the service of gasoline more accurate than heretofore by preventing the waste due to overflow, thus pro- 1935, Serial No. 17,447

moting the sale of this commodity in larger quantities. It will save the time of the automobile driver and the attendant, and will prove a valuable sales accessory to modern computing pumps.

The design of the nozzle, of course, permits the'operator to deliver any required quantity up to the capacity of the tank, it being unnecessary for him to use the non-overflow attachment unless he so desires. While this invention and this specification specifically describe the device as applicable to the dispensing of gasoline, it is quite apparent to one versed in the art that the invention is applicable in its scope to the dispensing of other liquids into containers of vari-. ous types and for various purposes. It is to be understood that I do not wish to be limited by the exact embodiment of the device shown-which is merely by way of illustration and not limitation, as various and other forms of the device will, of course, be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

With these and various other objects in view, the invention may consist of certain novel features of construction and operation as will be more fully described and fully pointed out in the specification, drawings and claims appended hereto.

In the drawings, which illustrate an embodiment of the device and wherein like reference characters are used to designate like parts:-

Fig. 1 is a cross section taken on line II of Fig. 3;

Fig. 2 is a cross section taken on line 11-11 of Fig.

Fig.3 is a side elevation of a gasoline dispensing nozzle, parts of the mechanism being shown in section;

Fig. 4 is a side elevationof the dispensing nozzle on a smaller scale;

Fig. 5 is a cross section of the sealing cap;

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the dispensing nozzle, parts thereof being shown in section;

Fig; 7 is a section taken on line VIIV1'I of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a cross section taken on line VIIIVIH of Fig. 6;

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic illustration of the lower end of the dispensing nozzle and venting tube, showing the action of escaping air and incoming gasoline.

Fig. 10 is a side elevation of thegasoline dispensing nozzle, a part thereof being shown in section and disclosing a modified form of the latch mechanism whereby valve 2 is held in open position.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and particularly Fig. 3, A indicates a valve housing in which is mounted a main actuating valve 2. The housing is provided at one end with an attachment for a hose line 3, while the other end of the housing forms a nozzle 4 to which is attached a flexible spout 5 adapted to be inserted in the filling opening of a tank to be filled.

Forming a part of the housing, or suitably secured thereto, is a handle guard 6 and pivoted to the guard, as at i and mounted within the same, is a valve handle 8, whereby the main valve 2 is either manually or automatically actuated, as will hereinafter be described.

Pivotally mounted on the guard 6, as at 9, is a lever Hi. This lever extends through a slot H formed in the handle 8 and it is attached to one end of a plate E2, the opposite end of said plate being supported and guided by a pair of rollers l3 carried by the valve handle. Plate l2 has an opening 54 formed therein and a similar opening Ma is formed in the handle 8. These openings are normally out of register, or in other words oifset with relation to each other. The position of the Opening Ma never changes but opening i4 may be changed to bring it in register with the opening Ma by imparting a longitudinal sliding movement to the plate l2. This movement is automatic and will hereinafter be described.

The main actuating valve 2 is provided with a stem 2a, which projects through the usual type of stufiing box shown at IS. The outer end of the stem bears against the plate I2, hence if the handle 8 is grasped and pressed to Swing about its pivot i from the dotted to the full line position shown in Fig. 3, the Stem or valve 2 will be forced inwardly and the valve will be opened. Conversely, if the handle is swung about its pivot in the opposite direction, the valve will be closed by the action of the spring 2b. On the other hand, if the valve is opened and held in open position by a latch, such as indicated at I6, and it is desired to automatically close the valve, it is accomplished by imparting longitudinal movement to the plate l2 a sufficient distance to cause the opening i4 formed therein to re ister with the opening l4a, asv this will release the valve and permit it to be closed by the action of spring 2?).

The automatic operation of the plate 12 and the consequent closing of the valve 2 is only resorted to when it is desired to completely fill the tank, and it is accomplished as follows: Secured to the lower end of the nozzle is an annular flange i8 and adapted to swivel or turn about the flange is a sealing cap l9, to the interior of which is secured a plate 20 and a gasket 2|. The plate 23 is provided with a pair of lugs 22, which are adapted to interlock with inturned flanges 23 formed in the upper end of a sleeve 24 forming the filling opening of a tank; the interlock form being accomplished in the same way as a bayonet lock. Secured to the nozzle and extending through the flange I8 is a venting tube 25. This tube is parallel to the nozzle and it is inserted, together with it, into the filling opening of a tank when the tank is to be filled. The lower end of the tube is provided with a telescoping extension 25, which permits lengthening or shortening of the venting tube as a Whole. The upper end of the venting tube isconnected with a flexible or bellows type of tube, such as shown at 21. This flexible tube is mounted within a housing 28, which is closed at the upper end by a cap 29. The upper end of the bellows tube is closed by a plate 30 and a valve seat member 3| is secured to the inner side thereof. A cage 32 surrounds the valve seat member and this cage contains a float valve of the ball type, such as indicated at 33. A venting passage 34 extends through the valve seat member and the plate 30 and opens into the cap 29 and this is, in turn, provided with a vent opening 35 to permit free escape of air during the filling of the tank. Attached to the plate 30 is a rod 36, the other end of which is connected with a lever ID. A spring 31 surrounds the rod and normally maintains the bellows tube and the lever it in the position shown in Fig. 3. The housing 28 is provided with a drain pocket 38 and this is connected through a tube 39 with the interior of the nozzle 4, a check valve 40 being placed on the inner end of the tube to prevent reverse flow through the drain tube 39, as will hereinafter be described.

Means are provided for securing the valve handle 8 in the full line position shown in Fig. 3, to-wit, the latch l6. This latch may be released by either one of the trip levers indicated at 43 or 44. The levers 43 and 44 are connected by a pair of spring arms 45, which are pivoted as shown at 46. Lever 43 is pivoted to the valve handle 8 at 41, hence by applying inward pressure to the lever 43 a rocking movement is imparted to the spring arm 45 and the latch is retracted with relation to a notch Ilia in the guard as the trip lever 44 forms a part of the latch.

The latch is normally held in projected position by means of a rod 48 pivotally secured thereto and slidably mounted in a lug 49, a spring 50 being interposed between the lug and the latch to normally maintain it projected. The latch may also be released by pressing on the lever 44. Such pressure will cause the spring arm 45 to swing about its pivot 46 and thereby cause retraction of the latch.

The operation will be as follows:

When a tank is to be filled with gasoline, or whatever the commodity may be, the spout 5, together with the venting tube, is inserted in the filling opening of a tank and the sealing cap I9 is applied by rotating it so that the lugs 22 will interlock with the flanges 23. When this is accomplished, the operator merely depresses the handle 3 to assume the position shown in Fig. 3. This causes opening of the valve 2 and a full flow of gasoline will discharge through the nozzle into the tank, the valve being held in open position by the latch I6. As the tank is being filled, air is at the same time being displaced and it escapes freely through the tube 25 and the bellows tube and finally through the passage 34 and the vent opening 35. This flow of air does not affect the ball valve 33 as it is sufliciently heavy.

If the tank is only partially filled and the purchaser, for instance, wishes five gallons, the operator will release the handle 8 and close the valve by depressing one or another of the trip levers 43 or 44 so as to permit the valve handle to return to normal position and the valve to close by the action of the spring 21). On the other hand, if the purchaser wishes the tank filled the operation of closing the valve 2 becomes automatic.

By referring to Figs. 3 and 9, it will be noted that as the gasoline level reaches the point indicated at D, gasoline will enter the vent tube and will flow up the same into the bellows tube and as such will cause the valve 33 to rise and engage the seat member 3|, thereby closing ofi'the vent opening and permitting the pressure created to expand the bellows tube so that it will assume the position shown in Fig. -6. This expansionor elongation of the bellows tube causes compression of the spring 37 and it also swings the lever about its pivot 9, and as the plate I2 is attached to the free end of the lever, longitudinal movement will be imparted and the opening M in the plate will be brought into register with the opening Ma in the valve head. The valve stem is thus released and, as shown in Fig. 6, it will be projectedthrough the registering openings thereby permitting closing of the valve 2 by the spring 2b; Any'desired final level may be maintained in the tank by adjusting the telescoping tube indicated at 26. When the gasoline has been shut oii by the automatic closing of the valve 2, it is only necessary for the operator to grasp the sealing cap I9 and rotate it to free the lugs 22 with relation to the flanges 23. The dispensing nozzle as a whole may then be lifted out of the tank and what gasoline is contained in the nozzle and in the spout 5 will drain therefrom and into the tank and the level will rise, for instance, to the dotted line indicated at C, or possibly to that indicated at B this depending entirely upon the cubic content of the nozzle and the small amount of gasoline draining back from the bellows tube and the venting tube and any small amount that may pass through the outer passages into the housing 28, any gasoline passing over being collected in the drain chamber 38 and being returned through the drain tube 39 r and the check valve 40.

Before the dispensing nozzle is hung up after the servicing operation has been completed, the operator will again release the valve handle and return it to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 3. In so doing plate l2 will clear the lower end of the valve stem and the diaphragm, together with the assistance of spring 31, will contract and return the plate to normal position so as to be ready to again lift and open the valve when the next car is to be serviced.

In actual practice it is found that the actual pressure of the gasoline flowing through the dispensing nozzle always exceeds three pounds to the square inch, hence as this is the case sufiicient pressure is developed during the last stage of the filling operation to actuate the bellows tube and hence the plate [2 whereby tripping or closing of the valve 2 is accomplished.

From the foregoing it should be apparent that a dispensing nozzle has been provided whereby any desired quantity of gasoline may be dispensed as the operator can manually close the valve whenever a desired quantity has been dispensed by merely releasing latch I6. Again, if it is desired to completely fill the tank, the valve will be automatically closed as described, hence leaving the service station operator free to attend to other details while the tank is being filled.

Fig. 10 discloses a modified form of the latch mechanism whereby the valve 2 is held in open position. In this instance the valve handle 8a is pivoted to the housing at the point indicated at Ta and it is slotted as at B0 to permit a latch arm 6| to extend therethrough. This latch is pivoted as at 62 and the upper end is actuated by a spring 63 so as to normally hold the latch in engagement with a shoulder 64 on the valve handle 8a. The latch is adapted to be both automatically and manually released, manual release being obtained by a grip member 65 pivoted to the handle as indicated at 66, a rod' or link 61 connects the lower end of the grip with the latch hence if the grip is-gr'asped and pulled'towa-rd the handle 8a the latch will be pulled away from the shoulderfiland valve 2 will close. Automatic'release is accomplished by interposing a pivotally mounted trip lever 68 between the latch and rod 36d; which is actuated by the bellows tube as previously described. e 7

While certain features of the present invention are more or less specifically described, I wish it understood that various changes may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims. Similarly, that the materials and finish of the several parts employed may be such as the manufacturer may decide, or varying conditions or uses may demand. Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A device of the character described comprising a housing terminating in a filling nozzle, a spring closed valve in the housing controlling the fiow of liquid through the housing and nozzle, a stem on the valve and projecting through the housing, a handle pivotally mounted on the housing and being engageable with the stem to open the valve, a spring actuated latch pivoted at one endto the valve housing, the opposite end of said latch engageable with a shoulder on the handle to secure the'handle in a position where the valve is maintained open, manually actuated means for releasing the latch to swing the handle to a position to close the valve, a lever pivotally mounted on the housing and engageable with the latch, and a vent pipe cooperating with the nozzle whereby air displaced during filling of a tank escapes, said escape of air permitting liquid to enter the vent pipe when the liquid in the tank reaches a predetermined level, and means actuated by entrance of liquid in the vent pipe for swinging the lever against the latch to release the handle and the valve held open by the same.

2. A device of the character described comprising a housing terminating in a filling nozzle, a spring closed valve in the housing controlling the fiow of liquid through the housing and nozzle, a. stem on the valve and projecting through the housing, a handle pivotally mounted on the housing and engageable with the stem to open the valve, a latch engageable with the handle to hold the valve in open position, manually actuated means for releasing the latch to close the valve, and automatically actuated means to release the latch to close the valve, said last-named means comprising a vent pipe cooperating with the nozzle whereby air displaced during filling of a tank escapes, a bellows tube connected with the vent pipe and having a vent opening formed therein, a valve cooperating with the vent opening and normally open, said valve closing the vent upon entrance of liquid into the bellows tube and said closing of the valve causing elongation of the bellows tube, and means'actuated by elongation of the bellows tube for releasing the latch to permit closing of the spring closed valve. 7

3. A device of the character described comprising a housing terminating in a filling nozzle, a spring closed main valve in the housing controlling the fiow of liquid through the housing and nozzle, a stem on the valve and projecting through the housing, a handle pivotally mounted on the housing and engageable with the stem to open the valve, a latch for securing the handle in a position where the valve is open, a vent pipecooperating with the nozzle whereby air displaced during filling of the tank escapes, said escape of air permitting liquid to enter the vent pipe when the liquid level in the tank reaches a predetermined level, a valve in said vent pipe, said valve adapted to be automatically closed by the entrance of liquid into the vent pipe when the tank is filled and a member adapted to be extended upon closing of the valve, said extensible member on the housing and engageable with the stem to open the valve, a latch for securing the handle in a position where the valve is open, means for automatically disengaging the latch to release the handle and permit closing of the main valve, said means comprising a vent pipe cooperating with the nozzle whereby air displaced during filling of the tank escapes, a bellows tube connected with the vent pipe and having a vent opening formed therein, a valve connected with the vent opening and normally open, said valve closing the vent upon entrance of liquid into the bellows tube and said closing of the valve causing building up of air pressure and elongation of the bellows tube, and means actuated by elongation of the bellows tube for releasing the latch.

FRANK V. MAYO. 

